New report from the Global Cities Initiative focuses on global and domestic goods trade in metropolitan America

A new report released as part of the Global Cities Initiative – a joint project between JPMorgan Chase and Brookings – focuses on how goods trade between metropolitan areas contributes to economic growth.

Brookings’ Metro-to-Metro: Global and Domestic Goods Trade in Metropolitan America is the first-ever measurement of goods exchange at the sub-national scale. The research includes trade balance profiles for each of the 100 largest metro areas, helping local leaders to better understand their region’s place in domestic and global goods trade networks.

The research shows that all metropolitan areas run a trade surplus in at least one type of commodity, sending out more goods to other markets than they take in. The paper also finds that:

The 100 largest metro areas are responsible for the vast majority of international trade, more than 63 percent.

The 100 largest metro areas tend to trade more valuable commodities.

Some metropolitan areas are heavily-oriented toward international trade overall.